WBC Sightings

21 to 27 April 2013

Carlton Marshes attracted the pick of the passerine migrants this week with a female Ring Ouzel on 21 April, single Blue-headed Wagtails on 21 to 23 and 27 April, a White Wagtail also on 21 April, a Water Pipit on 22 April, and two Wheatears, 26 April. The first Nightingale of the year was recorded at Outney Common, Bungay, 23 April, with two at Barsham, 27 April, the first Reed Warbler at Carlton Marshes, 24 April, and the first Swifts at Weybread GP (six), 27 April. Other notable summer visitors included Yellow Wagtails at Flixton GP (three) and Worlingham Marshes, 21 April, Carlton Marshes (13), 22 April, and Beccles Marshes (five), 24 April, Cuckoos at Carlton Marshes (one throughout the week), Castle Marsh, North Cove, 23 April, Oulton Marshes, 24 April, and Barsham Marshes, 26 April, and Grasshopper Warblers at Oulton Marshes (seven) and North Cove (two), 23 April, and Carlton Marshes (five), 24 April. A late Lesser Redpoll was seen at Worlingham Marshes, 21 April, while notable residents included Kingfishers at Worlingham Marshes, 21 April, and Weybread GP, 27 April, and a Cetti’s Warbler at Worlingham Marshes and two Bearded Tits at Burgh Castle, 21 April.

Waders at Burgh Castle Flats included two Spotted Redshank, a Grey Plover, two Bar-tailed Godwit, 17 Avocet, 60 Curlew and 60 Redshank, 21 April, seven Whimbrel, 22 April, two Greenshank, 23 April, a Spotted Redshank, 23 and 24 April, and 200 Black-tailed Godwit, a Greenshank, three Knot, three Dunlin and eight Avocet, 27 April. Elsewhere, an impressive count of 80 Whimbrel was made at Beccles Marshes, 24 April, with one at Oulton Marshes the following day, 50 Black-tailed Godwit flew north over Carlton Marshes, 25 April, three Greenshank were present at Carlton Marshes, 26 April, with one seen the following day, and Redshank were noted at Weybread GP, 22 April, Beccles Marshes (two), 25 April, and Carlton Marshes, 27 April. Late Green Sandpipers were present at Flixton GP (two), 21 April, and Beccles Marshes, 25 April, with Common Sandpipers at Flixton GP, 21 April, and Weybread GP (two), 27 April.

The raptor highlight of the week was an Osprey at Worlingham, 25 April. The first Hobby of the year was seen at nearby Beccles Marshes on the same day, and a Red Kite flew north over South Road, Beccles, 27 April. At Carlton Marshes, a male Hen Harrier and a Red Kite were noted on 22 April, a Peregrine on 27 April, Short-eared Owls on 22, 26 and 27 April, and three Barn Owls on 26 April.